QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 3

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.

' COMPLAINT AGAINST ONE OF WILLOCHRA'S OFFICERS. (SrjECIAL TO "TIIE THESS.") WELLINGTON, Juno 1. A further question- relating to alleged breaches of the quarantine regulations in connexion with tho transport Willochra was put in tho House to-day by Mr C. H. Poole, who said that he had received a telegram from Mr W. Belcher, stating that tho Minister in his previous reply had been .incorrect iu stating that there had been no difference between the officers and crew of the steamer. The Hon. G. W. Russell replied that the matter had been enquired into, and'it had been shown that a great deal of responsibility attached to the chief engineer of the Willochra, and it was only because the I>epartment desired to prevent an important change in the position of chief engineer of the vessel that the officer had not been dealt with according to law. It was this officer who had broken quarantine, and he had also advised a junior officer to do the same. The matter was in the hands of the .department, and no doubt when the vessel returned suitable measures would be taken to deal with the man according to the law. The only other case in which anyone had been allowed to leave the Willochra was that of one of the men who was permitted to 20 to Wellington in order to see his who was dying. This man. however, was oulv allowed to leave the shin on a careful examination, showing that he had been successfully vaccinated. Otherwise the quarantine regulations had been carried, out strictly, and without any differentiation.